Open Meeting / Ethics / Oath of Office

Open Meeting Law

All meetings are open to the public 
Meeting notices are posted at least 48 hours prior to the meeting 
 
 OFFICIAL MEETING NOTICES 
 Notices are posted on the public meetings bulletin board located in the hallway outside the clerk’s office, and notices are posted at the online meeting calendar. 
 
 Alternative Posting Method [940 CMR 29.03(2)(b)a.]

(a) The municipal clerk, or other person designated by agreement with the municipal clerk, shall post notice of the meeting in a manner conspicuously visible to the public at all hours in or on the municipal building in which the clerk's office is located. Such notice shall be accessible to the public in the municipal clerk's office. If such notice is not conspicuously visible to the public during hours when the clerk's office is closed, such notice shall also be made available through an alternative method prescribed or approved by the Attorney General under 940 CMR 29.03(2)(b). A description of such alternative method, sufficient to allow members of the public to obtain notice through such method, shall be posted in a manner conspicuously visible to the public at all hours on or adjacent to the main and handicapped accessible entrances to the municipal building in which the clerk's office is located.
 (b) For local public bodies, the Attorney General has determined, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, sec. 20(c), that the following alternative methods will provide more effective notice to the public:

a. Public bodies may post notice of meetings on the municipal website; 

Ethics & Conflict of Interest

The conflict of interest law seeks to prevent conflicts between private interests and public duties, foster integrity in public service, and promote the public's trust and confidence in that service by placing restrictions on what municipal employees may do on the job, after hours, and after leaving public service.

Online Ethics Training

Summary of Conflict of Interest Law

Acknowledgement of Conflict of Interest Law Summary

Oath of Office

Upon election or appointment to an Town office, board, commission or committee, the individual must be administered the oath of office (be sworn in to serve) at the Town Clerk's Office prior to participating in a meeting requiring a vote. At that time, the State's Open Meeting Law is distributed or referred by on-line access and a copy of the Ethics Law is distributed. Newly elected and re-elected Town Meeting Members are administered the oath of office at Town Meeting. Please see above for a complete advisory for newly elected Town Meeting Members and for those serving on boards, committees and commissions.